Stephen Ezell

Globalization 1.0 has failed, but protectionist autarky cannot be its replacement. Instead, it is past time to craft a new kind of globalization that advances U.S. interests in key industries and prevents China from becoming the dominant techno-economic power.

The administration should address concerns related to counterfeit products, discriminatory digital taxes, and investment controls for critical technologies with measures to protect American innovation while promoting fair, rules-based trade principles that benefit the U.S. economy and support U.S. technological leadership.

The administration should address mercantilist policies that systematically disadvantage American businesses and workers with corrective measures such as strategic enforcement actions, reciprocal tariffs, expanded trade agreements, and stronger digital trade protections.

The administration should address trade imbalances, discriminatory regulations, and digital trade restrictions imposed by China, India, and the European Union, among others. Targeted policy responses may include reciprocal tariffs, digital trade enforcement, fair pricing mechanisms, and strengthened trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for U.S. businesses.

As the Trump administration seeks to rebalance America’s trade relationships, it should focus the most attention on countries where U.S. industries face the worst trade distortions and imbalances, and where the greatest gains can be achieved for the U.S. economy. China, India, and the European Union top that list.

Recent policies permitting CMS price setting are hamstringing the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry, as they reduce incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in future drug R&D to create life-improving and life-saving medicines.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) undermines innovation in small-molecule drugs by subjecting them to price controls after 9 years, whereas large-molecule drugs (biologics) are allowed 13 years of market pricing. Congress should pass the bipartisan EPIC Act to remedy this issue.

The 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act revolutionized the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, successfully balancing the interests of pharmaceutical innovation and affordability by creating legal pathways for accelerated generic drug competition while extending patent protections and introducing data exclusivities that preserved incentives for novel pharmaceutical innovation.

Trump’s proposed 100 percent tariffs on Taiwanese chips would hike prices, hurt U.S. tech, help China, and alienate a key ally—without bringing jobs home.

The Biden administration's proposed export controls would impose sweeping restrictions on chip exports, risking U.S. competitiveness while failing to effectively address national security concerns.

Reviving U.S. semiconductor manufacturing requires targeted solutions—not broad tariffs that raise costs and hinder global competitiveness.

Again and again, America has pioneered new technologies and then frittered away its leadership—in sectors ranging from semiconductors and solar panels, to televisions and medical devices. We can’t afford to squander another lead in multi-cancer early detection (MCED) because of regulatory roadblocks.

Watch now for an expert panel elucidating the innovation economics of the global semiconductor industry, exploring how the industry is capitalized, and exploring the landscape of global semiconductor competition and policy in the year ahead.

Watch now for a conversation detailing the effect and importance of Manufacturing USA, and emphasizing the importance of sustained investment in the program to policymakers.

Please join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation for an expert briefing event to discuss the findings of a 20-month ITIF investigation into Chinese firms’ innovative capabilities in key advanced industries, including robotics, chemicals, nuclear power, electric vehicles, semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.

Stephen Ezell joined an expert panel hosted by The Hill to discuss how nuclear power can help the United States meet unprecedented electricity demand and examine the path ahead after the ADVANCE Act.

Watch now for an expert briefing event on Capitol Hill where panelists discussed an ITIF report exploring Chinese EV innovation, the state of global competition in EVs, China’s aggressive support tactics, and what the United States needs to do to stay competitive.

Stephen Ezell delivers a featured presentation at the 2024 national meeting of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIMBL).

Stephen Ezell presents on the principles of national innovation success to the Colombian think tank INNOS.

Stephen Ezell presents on the state of global geoeconomic competition and avenues for United States-Japan economic security collaboration for the Japan Foundation.

Stephen Ezell presents on the status of the CHIPS and Science Program.

Watch now for an expert panel discussion surrounding the ITIF report examining why the United States lost its lead in other advanced technology industries, and how policymakers can avoid repeating the same mistakes in the biopharmaceutical sector.

Watch now for an expert panel discussion about a new ITIF report that was commissioned to inform the U.S. and Indian governments for their joint initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

Watch now for an ITIF event releasing a report that will explore the Dominican Republic’s preparedness to compete in global semiconductor and PCB value chains.